Cairns is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the 2021 census, Cairns had a population of 153,181 people. The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, following the discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson River. During World War II, the city became a staging ground for the Allied Forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. By the late 20th century the city had become a centre of international tourism. In the early 21st century, it has developed into a major regional city.
Population: 153,181 (2021) (15th)
Established: 1876
Postcode(s): 4870
Elevation: 7 m (23 ft)
Area: 254.3 km² (98.2 sq mi)
Location: 68 km (42 mi) SSE of Port Douglas · 347 km (216 mi) NNW of Townsville · 1,064 km (661 mi) NW of Rockhampton · 1,695 km (1,053 mi) NNW of Brisbane
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